What Is Happiness, After All?

Are you chasing happiness? Do you feel pressured to be happy all the time?

Despite what people, companies, or even the mental health industry may say, defining happiness is far from simple. Even within science, the concept of happiness takes on different meanings, sometimes within the same field.

Perhaps the pressure to be happy is just another aspect of societal norms. After all, happiness means different things to different people, at different times.

Philosophers differ in their interpretations of happiness: some locate it within the individual as an inner condition, while others define it as the constant presence of pleasure. Certain schools emphasize the pursuit of a meaningful and virtuous life, whereas theological perspectives often describe happiness as a gift granted by God.

Over time, happiness has been studied and measured. In certain areas of psychology, for instance, happiness is defined as the fulfillment of all basic needs, such as physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. In other areas, happiness is viewed as the harmony among all structures of the mind.

It’s complicated, isn’t it?

My suggestion is this: instead of worrying about how science defines happiness, why not create our own personal definition?

Happiness can take many shapes: a quiet moment of peace, the thrill of achievement, or the simple comfort of belonging. It is a deeply subjective feeling, unique to each person’s experience. Yet it can also seem intangible, a story we tell ourselves about what life should feel like, or a horizon we’re always moving toward but never quite reach.

Do you recognize happiness while you’re living it, or only realize later that you were happy in that moment? Perhaps this is why we feel nostalgic so often.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on our own definition of happiness, and not be swayed by societal expectations. It’s okay to smile and be happy, but let’s do it for ourselves, not for anyone else.